Britain is the true home of the movie blockbuster, boasting “more studio space than Hollywood”. And a new generation of super-studios could see the UK eclipse the dream factories of California.
Massive expansion in recent years means there is now 6.9million sq ft of sound stages in the UK, according to an analysis by commercial property consultants Knight Frank.
As of March last year, Los Angeles had 6.2million sq ft of sound stages.
A Government source confirmed: “We now have more studio space than Hollywood.”
This year’s Barbie blockbuster was filmed at Warner Bros’s Leavesden studios, near Watford.
This centre of British film-making will be expanded by more than 50 per cent to become the hub for the DC Studios superhero franchise.
The industry has suffered from the shutdown of productions due to the Hollywood actors’ and writers’ strikes but Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer is ambitious for the long-term future of film in this country.
She said: “Britain’s film industry is one of the best in the world, with first-class studios, unique locations and award-winning talent, in front of and behind the camera.
“Today we undoubtedly rival the best Hollywood has to offer and I want to maximise this potential by ensuring the UK remains an unmissable destination for film and TV production for years to come.”
Film and high-end television production boosted the economy by a record £6.27billion last year.
The Batman, released in 2022, used various evocative locations including Liverpool, London and Glasgow. And upcoming productions to be shot here include Wicked, the film adaptation of the hit musical, and Deadpool 3, the latest in the satirical Marvel superhero franchise.
Netflix has invested £4.8billion in the UK since 2020, with Amazon Prime video pumping in more than £1billion since 2018.
There are concerns that demand for studio space will outpace supply. Knight Frank said the UK needs an extra 2.6million sq ft by 2028 to match an anticipated £2.4billion increase in production.
Adrian Wootton, chief executive of the British Film Commission, is in no doubt why so many film-makers want to be based in the UK.
He said: “We offer world class crew and talent, generous and reliable tax reliefs, cutting-edge video effects and post-production facilities, unique locations and substantial studio and stage space.”
Chris Berry, of property experts Lambert Smith Hampton, said: “The UK has done incredibly well attracting a significant proportion of the increased production output associated with streaming.
“Inward investment spend has nearly trebled in the past 10 years and London is widely recognised as the only global production hub outside of North America.”
Optimism about the future contrasts with tough conditions currently faced by many in the sector, as productions were put on hold as a result of the US strikes.
A survey by UK film and TV union Bectu found three-quarters of respondents were not working – and eight out of 10 had been directly affected by the disputes.
An industry insider said: “The strikes have had a huge impact.”
But with the writers’ strike now over and studio space in high demand, they acknowledged the future looks bright: “We have seen production on an unprecedented scale. Long-term, it’s fantastic.”
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